Burner and valvular control therefor



i e m40 w ////%////////4////W e E. L. LowE BURNEEAND vALvULAa CONTROL THEREFOR Filed Nov. 50. 1926 Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFF-ICE.

EDWARD L. LOWE7 OF PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR '10 J. W. CLUNE C0., OF

.LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

BURNER AND VALVULAR CONTROL THEREFOR.

Application led November 30, 1926. Serial No 151,636.

My invention relates to a novel construction of a burner and its adj uncts for internal combustion engines and a valvular control therefor, whereby in lieu of gasoline as a fuel, I am enabled by my` novel construction to employ the cheapest `and heavier grades of hydrocarbons or oils, whose cost ap-proximates tive combustion of fuel oil, which form the` basis of this invention.

(2) Air when compressed to about 200k pounds perpsquare inch gauge is raised in temperature to about 670 F. Lower as well as higher compressive pressures have corresponding temperature, and the temperature of 67 0 F. is far in excess of that actually required to burn ordinary fuel oil and one object of my invention is to utilize this temperature to ignite oil of combustion.

My novel burner and' its valvular control comprises a device, which may be used on engines with compressive pressures lower than those used in engines of the Diesel type and is applicable to engines using a light fuel for starting only, as well as engines which have no such provision, depending in either case entirely upon the compressive pressures for which the engine is designed. I have found that with a compressive pressure of about 200 pounds per square inch,n ordinary fuel oil may be ignited from a cold start and that an engine with much lower compressive pressure will operate satisfactorily on the same grade'of oil, but ordinarilyniust be started on a light fuel with higher flash and fire test.

The advantages of my novel device reside in its extreme simplicity of construction, its lfreedom from carbon deposits and its satisfactory functioning with comparatively lower compressive pressure, the freedom. from carbon deposits being accomplished by ignition` and combustion taking place without contact of the fuel oil with parts at either extremely high temperatures .or parts at low temperatures. Extremely high temperatures as met with in the hotv bulb engines have a tendency to decompose or crack the oil of combustion instead of vaporizing it, with a resultant deposition of carbon. When the oil of combustion deposits on cool surfaces 1t 1does not vaporize and a carbon deposit resu ts. y

To the above ends my invention consists of a novel valvular control for a burner for internal combustion engines, comprising a plurality of concentrically arranged metallic ferrules, thimbles or sleeve-like members which for convenience of manufacture are made separate so as to be readily assembled or disconnected if desired, said thimbles being clamped or positioned by novel mechanism within a pocket or passage in the engine cylinder communicating with the compression chamber, and said valvular control comprising an upwardly seating valve and a valve stem having thereon means for effecting an automatic intermittent rotation of said stem and valve, whereby the liability of wear on the valve seat is obviatedor reduced to a minimum.

It further consists of a novel construction y while the annular space between the two thimbles comprises a thin or restricted annular air heating and guiding channel, the fuel prior to its exit into said combustion chamber, passing through apertured disks collocated and functioning in a novel manner to be hereafter described;

It further consists of a novel construction of a burner composed of concentric skirts, thimbles or sleeve-like members, which may have upper inwardly deflected supporting iianges, the inner thimb-le being preferably shorter than the outer thimble and provided with upper ports therein and novel means being provided for positioning said burner in a passage inthe engine cylinder head in communication with the compression chamber, the passage. of fuel to said burner, being controlled. byan upwardly seating valve, which is automatically and intermittently rotatable.

It further consists in combination with a burner of the general character above .de-

spring pressed valve stem having upper and lower heads provided with spiral cuts, whereby the valve for admittingfuel to the burner is automatically controlled by said spring or its equivalent, so as properly to admit the fuel to the burner under all condi-A f 12 with the lower end of the cap member 4.

The head 8 is in threaded engagement with tions and to be seated by back pressure.

It further consists of a novel construction of a burner of the character above described, combined with an automatically rotated valvular member, which' is seated by spring pressure and by back pressure from the burner,

said valve being positioned -in proximity to said burner, and automatically operated, as will be hereafter explained.

It further consists of a novel valvular control, -a novelburner having a central combustion chamber' formed within a pendant skirt having ports in its uppenportion, positioned in proximity to an annular concave wall inthe nozzle body, and a thin outer, restricted, air heating chamber, and novel means for assembling these devices with respect to the valvular control.

It further consists of other novel features of advantage and construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings, a form thereof which is at p-resent preferred by me, since it will give in prac,

tice, satisfactory and reliable results, although itis to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which' my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described. f Y

' In the accompanying drawings,

Fi re 1 represents avertical sectional view 0f a urner and its adjuncts embodying my invention, certain of the parts being shown in elevation.

Fil'gure 2 represents a vertical sectional view simi ar to the lower portion'of Figure 2, but showing the fuel valve unseated.

Figure 3 represents, in detached position, a plan view ofa perforated disc employed.

Figure 4 represents, on an enlarged scale, a plan view of the u per head of the valve stem, showing the inc ined cuts therein.

Figure 5, represents, on an enlarged scale, a plan view of the top of the nozzle plate.

Referring to the drawin s, in which similar reference characters indicate like parts In carrying out my invention, the fuel, through theaction of a pump plunger, (not shown) is caused to enter the passage 1, of the inlet pipe 2, and passes through the aligning secured in position by the nut 6, which is in threaded engagement with the cap member at the point 7. The incoming fuel passes around r the outer periphery of the head 8 and along linner sleeve or valve stem guide 11, which latter is in threaded engagement at the point the upper end of the valve stem 13, which is Asurrounded by the spring 9, below which, is the head 14 having the spiral or inclined grooves 16 therein. -The lower portion 17 of the valve stem forms a continuation of the pper portion 13 and is preferably of larger dlameter than the latter. Near the lower end of the valve stem 17 is the head 18 having the spiral or inclined ports 19 therein. The heads 14 and 18 lit loosely and are guidedy in the bore 20, which serves as a fuel passage for incoming fuel. At the lower end of the valve stem 17 is located the valve 21, which is of conical form and seats upwardly against the valve seat 22,'the valve being shown seated in Fig. 1, and unseated in Fig. 2. The fuel after passing through the upper chamber 5 passes through the inclined cuts 16 in the head 14 and thence through the chamber 20 and through the inclined cuts 19 of the head 18 toA the top of the valve 21. The tension of the spring 9 against the bottom of the head 8 is such that the valve 2l is normally held against its seat 22, butat the proper intervals of the pulsations of the fuel pumpingele'- ment (not shown) the pressure within the chambers 5 and 2O will overcome the forces holding the valve 214 on its seat and the valve will unseat, as seen in Fig. `2 and will at the same time be rotated by the passage ofthe fuel under pressure through the inclined cuts or ports 16 and 19`of the upper and lower heads 14 and 18, respectively. i

It will of course be understood that the tea-- sion of the spring 9 is such as to serve to insure prompt and certain return of the valve 21 to its seat 22, as soon as the wave of'excess pressure has past the spiral walls or vanes 29, into thel central chamber 30 -of the disc 27 and thence' assed. When the valve 21 is.. unseated the uel passes into the chamber 23' outwardly in a whirling direction through the small nozzle orifice 31 andfinally issues.

finely atomized orv pulverize'd fuel. While the creation of said spiral or lwhirling jet of the exact character above described is not absolutely essential, since any whirling jet .will meet practical requirements, I prefer to employ or create the whirling, spiral vform of spray created by the construction above described. This conical, -diverging, spiral, whirling jet of atomized fuel is discharged into the cylin-drical combustion chamber 33 formed wit-hin the pendant cylinder, thimble or skirt 34, which is provided at its upper portion with the ports 35. 36 designates an outer cylindrical shell, thimble, or skirt, which is of slightly greater length than the inner skirt 34, whereby there is formed a concentric heating and guiding passage 37 which communicates at its upper portion with the port 35. There are a number of these ports 35 in the upper portion of the skirt 34 and it will be noted that said ports 35 a-re positioned in proximity to the curved or concaved annular surface or wall 33, which is located at the lower end 'of the nozzle body 39.

While I have shown one mode of assembling the various elements composing the burner body or casing, and their adjuncts, it will be apparent that these parts may be d'ierently constructed and assembled. I preferably construct the nozzle body 39, so that its inner flange or shoulder 40 serves to retain in position the 'disk-s 25 and 27, while its outer flange 41, serves to support and lock in assembled position, the inturned upper'flanges 42 and 43 of the inner and out-er thimbles or skirts 34 and 36 respectively, said nozzle body being in threaded engagement at 44 with the lower end of the inner member 11. The nut 45 locks the member 11 to the outer. casing 46, which is externally threaded at 47 for engagement with the engine cylinder.

I preferably bevel the nozzle body 39 as indicated at 48 and it will be apparent that any back pressure in the burner or combustion chamber 33 will tend to seat the valve 21 upwardly, this upward seating tendency being augmented by the spring 9 as is evident.

1While I preferably proportion the length of the burner elements substantially as seen in Fig. 1, my device will function satisfactorily, if said burner elements are of substantially the same length. It will be obvious that a plurality of burners may beemployed for a. single cylinder and when a plurality of said lburners are employed, it will be evident that they may be disposed around o r in the cylinder head iii any desire-darrangement, which will produce the greatest efficiency.

It will be noted that the central combustion chamber 33 and theouter relatively thin annular passage 37 communicate at their upper and lower portions, the upper communication being at or by the ports 35.-

The operation is as follows t The general mode of operation, in so far as the co-action of the combustion chamber 33 and the outer annular passage 37 and the ports 35 is concerned, in general, is substantially the same as explained in my prior patents granted to me, Nos. 1,454,972; 1,443,187; 1,450,691 and 1,462,514, my present invention differing from the constructions shown therein, mainly in the employment of the disks 25 and 27 in conjunction with the curved wall 38 of the nozzle body and the valve positioned in proximity to said disks and provided with the two heads having spiral'cuts therein, for the purposes already explained. There is,

however, 1n my present device, a conicalv will be effective in its upper portion and air will flow upwardly through the annular passage chamber 37 through the ports 35 and will then be deflected downwardly by the curved wall 38, thus meeting and surrounding the spreading jet of atomized fuel. Under these jconditions and with the air temperature conditions as they now are, a fractional distillation or vaporization will result, parts of the lighter fractions of the fuel being vaporize'd out ofthe heavier body, and such lighter fractions will then find themselves in a temperature adequate for ignition with oxygenl at hand for combustion as required. Ignition will then follow and with such initial ignition, `the immediate combustion of the fuel charge will follow in regular course.

It will be apparent that the spiral or inclined ports`16 and 19 enable the fuel to impart tothe valvestem and valve a slight rotary movement at each admission of fuel thus equalizing wear on the valve and its seat, as is evident.

'It will be understood that while I have found in practice, very advantageous results to be attained by the employment of the spiral slots in the heads 14 and 18 forthe purpose of rotating the valve and stem and thus equalizing wear in the valve and seat, it will be apparent that my burner will operate effectively without such means for. automatic.

rotation of the valve.

It will be further apparent that while I have found the means herein described for producing a spiral or swirling jetA of fuel to be desirable and very effective, my novel burner will function effectively without such means and with simply a diverging or conical 1 spray, so that while the creation of the swirlmg or spiral jet described is a preferable and desirable construction, my device will be operable and eflicient if the means shown in Figure 5 for producing such spiral jet are omitted or'modified.

Spcial attention is called to the provision of the curved or deflecting surface 38 which is located in proximity to the ports 35 which I have found to be a very important element in my present invention, since,this curved surface 38 serves instantly to deflect the preheated air entering thecombustion chamber 33 through the ports 35 from the thin annular preheating chamber 37. It will be understood that while I have described my invention as being especially adapted for in-y ternal combustion engines, the same'is capable of being used and installed in other locations wherein an effective, quick and complete combustion of the hydrocarbon is desired at a given point.

It will now beapparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction of burner and valvular control thereforwhich embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement offthe invention and the abovev description, and while I have in thepresent instance 'shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable'results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars Withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of .the-invention or sacricing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is J l. In a device of the character stated, the combination of a burner, a fuel-passage leading thereto, an upwardly seating valve in said passage, a valve stem for saidvalve, means for holding said valve to-its seat, and heads on said valve stem having inclined grooves therein whereby the passage of fuel to said burner past said heads tends to rotate said valve and its stem.

2. In a device ofthe character stated, the combination of aburner, a fuel passage leading thereto, a plurality of apertured discs lo*-v cated above said burner, the upper of said discs having outer ports therein and the lower of said discs having a central, conical discharge port therein, an upwardly seating fuel valve positioned above said discs, a valve stem therefor, tension devices for 'keeping said valve normally seated, and heads on said valve provided with inclined cuts for effecting rotation of said valve and stem at intervals during the passage of the fuel to said burner.

3. The combination of a burner, a fuel passage leading thereto, a plurality of discs in the lower portion of said fuel passage through which the' fuel passes, the upper of said discs having outer ports therein 'and the lower of said discs being provided with means for giving a whirling action to the fuel, the lower of sald discs having a central, conical exit port, an upwardly seating valve located above said discs, a valve stem therefor, a head on the upper portion of saidvalve stem, a tension device bearing upwardly on said head', and lower heads on said valve stem below Ysaid tension device provided with inclined cuts ,for effecting the rotation `of said'valve:7 and stem during the passage of fuel to said burner.

4. In a device of the character stated, a burner composed of concentric thimbles, the inner thimble having upper ports therein, a nozzle body for holding said thimbles in assembled position, a pair of apertured discs contained in said nozzle body, the latter being being provided with an outer annular concave wall located inproximity to said ports in said inner thimble.

6. Iu a device of the character stated, a burner composed of concentric thimbles, the inner thimble having upper ports therein, a nozzle body for holding said thimbles in assembled position, and a pair of apertured discs contained in said nozzle body, the latter being provided with an outer annular concave wall located in proximity to said ports in said inner thimble, in combination with means on said lower disc for imparting a whirling movement to the fuel particles.

7. In a device of the character stated, a

burner composed of an outer sleeve, and an inner sleeve. positioned within said outer sleeve, both of said sleeves being open and unobstructed at their lower ends, whereby anouter channel or passage is formed between said sleeves open at its bottom, and a rlatively large combustion chamber is formed within said inner sleeve, said chambers being in communication at their upper and lower ends, and a plurality of discs through which the fuel passes, located above' said combustion chamber the upper -of said discs having outer -ports therein and the lowerl of said discs having a central exit port therein.

8. In a4 device of the character stated, la

burner composed of an outer sleeve, and an inner sleeve of less length than said outer *sleeve positioned within said outer sleeve,

central combustion chamber is formed withexit in saidinner sleeve, the latter having ports at its upper portion forming a communication between the upper portions of said chamber and said passage, and both of said sleeves being open and unobstructed throughout the entire area of their lower ends, a plurality of discs through which the fuel passes located above said Combustion chamber, the upper of said discs having outer ports therein, and the-lower of said discs having spiral vanes on its upper surface and a central conical discharge port.

9. Ina device of the character stat-ed, a burner composed of an outer sleeve, and an inner sleeve positioned within said outer sleeve, and having its lower end terminating .above the bottom of said outer sleeve, whereby a relatively thin, annular, chamber open at its bottom is formed between said sleeve, and a relatively large, central combustion chamber is formed within said inner sleeve, the latter having vports at its upper, portion forming a communication between the upper portions of said chambers, saidv outer sleeve being open and unobstructed throughout its entire area at its lower end, a conical fuel exit port discharging fuel into said combustion chamber, at a point in proximity to said ports, and a perforated disc above said fuel port. 10. An insertible burner for internal combustion engines having an elongated central combustion chamber and an elongated surrounding, relatively thin chamber communicating therewith through ports near'its upper end, the remaining portion of said elonp gated chamber being cut7 off from said combustion chamber, but communicating therewith at its lower end, said chambers being open and unobstructed throughout their entire lower area opening into the compression space, an upwardly seating fuel valve located in proximityto said burner and means for rotating said valve by the passage of fuel-to said burner.

11. A burner for engines of the slow combustion type, comprising a pluralityof approximately concentric cylindrical sleeves separated from each other by an outer air space forming a chamber opening into the compression space of the engine and a central combustion chamber formed within the inner sleeve and opening into said compression space and having restricted communication with said chamber near one end, the opposite ends of said chambers communicating, and the outer sleeve being open and unobstructed throughout its entire lower area opening into said compression space, an upwardly seating fuel valve located in proximity to said burner, and means for intermittently rotating said valve during the passage of fuel to said burner.

12. An insertible burner'for internal combustion engines, comprising a plurality ofadapted to be secured to said cylinder, and a plurality of apertured discs through which the fuel passes to lsaid burner, the lower of said discs having a conical exit port and ifneans for imparting a whirling motion to the uel.

13. In a device of the character stated, a burner composed of an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve positioned within said outer sleeve, both of saidv sleeves being open and unobstructed at their lower ends, whereby an outer chamber is formed between said sleeves open at its bottom, and a relatively large combustion chamber is formed within said inner sleeve, said chambers being in communication at their upper and lower ends,

an upwardly seating spring pressed fuel valve, means for intermittently rotating said valve during the passage of fuel to the burner, and a pair of apertured discs located between said valve and burner.

14. In a device of the character stated, a burner composed of an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve positioned within fsaid outer sleeve, both of said sleeves being open and unobstructed at their lower ends, whereby an outer air heating chamber is formed between said sleeves open at its bottom, and a relatively large combustion chamber is formed within said inner sleeve, said chambers being yin communication at their upper and lower ends, an upwardly seating valve in Iproximity to saidburner, and a pair of apertured discs intermediate said valve and burner, the lower of said discs having aconical exit port and means thereon for imparting a swirling motion to the fuel.

f 15. The combination of an engine cylinder, a casingv secured thereto and having a fuel passage therethrough, a burner comprising a plurality of Hanges in metallic; contact with said casing and secured to.said cylinder thereby, an outer thimble carried by one of said anges and positioned in a passage'within said cylinder, said outer thimble being open and unobstructed at its lower end, an inner thimble secured to the other of said Han es,

l cal exit port andmeans on said lower disc for' opposite ends, and both of said chambers having an uninterruptedcommunication at their lower ends'with the compression space of the cylinder, ay pair, of apertured discs for said burner, the lower of said discs having a coniv imparting a whirling motion to the fuel.

16. The combination of an engine cylinder, a relatively thick casing secured thereto and having -a fuel passage therethrough, a burner comprising an outer flange in metallic conpair of apertured discs between tact with said casing and having a thimble secured thereto open andunobstructed at its.

lower end, an inner flange seated within 'said outer flange, an inner 4thimble carried by said inner flange and positioned within said outer thimble, and ports near the upper end of said inner thimble, there being a combustion chamber formedwithin said inner thimble `and a channel or passage vformed between said thimbles, said chamber and channel communicating at their bottoms, a pair of apertured discs through which the fuel passes to said burner, and arotatable fuel valve located in proximity to said discs.

17. A burner for an internal combustion engine formed of an inwardly deflected outerflange, an outer thimble secured at one'end thereto and open and unobstructed at its op@ ner flange seated inl said 'outer flange and 'an inner thimble secured to said innerv fiange and positioned-within said outer thimble, and having restrictedports nearits flanged end, said inner thimble being shorter than said outer thimble, an' upwardly seating fuel valve, avalvejstem therefor, heads on said valve stem having inclined cuts therein, and a plurality of apertured discs between said valve andburnr. y I

19. A'burner for an internal combustion engine, formed-of an outer flange, an outer.

thimble secured at one end thereto and open and unobstructed at its opposite end, an inner ange seated in Said outer flan e,'an inner thimble secured to said inner ange and positioned within said outer thimble,and hav'- ing restricted ports near its flanged end, said inner thimble being shorter than "said outer thimble, a fuel valve above said burner, a plurality of apertured discs betweenA said valve and burner and a nozzle head 'having on its outer portion means for lsecuring the lian-ges of said thimbles in position and on its .so l

inner portionV means for retaining said discs v in assembled position.

20. In a device of the character stated, a

v burner composed of an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve positioned within said outer sleeve, both of said sleeves* bein open and unobstructed at their lower en s, whereby an outer thin, annular, airpreheating chamber is formed betweensaid sleeves open at its bottom, and a relatively large combustion chamber is. formed in' the inner-sleeve, thev latter having orts in'its upper portion, and a curved annu ar defiecting wall 1n roximity tosaid ports in the upper portion o said com-s bustion chamber for deflecting the preheated air entering from said ports in the jet of fuel.

' EDWARD L. LOWE. 

